For me, I have a few favorites for Christmas, but to me, the best Christmas movie ever made is 1983’s “A Christmas Story.”

Director Bob Clark had made it to the big time based on the success of the teen sex comedy “Porky’s,” which was the forerunner of the genre. He also directed its sequel. This gave him the ability to put together this little gem of a film that routinely makes an appearance during the holiday season.

Nine-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) is obsessed with getting the ultimate 1940s Christmas gift: a genuine Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Air Rifle BB gun with compass and sundial in the stock. But his mother, teacher and even a store Santa Claus thwart his dreams by all warning him, “You’ll shoot your eye out!”

The film is populated with a colorful cast of characters; the gruff Old Man (Darren McGavin) who dreams of a new furnace, but relishes the opportunity to swear at the old ‘clunker'; Mom (Melinda Dillon), who is the perfect 1940s mother; younger brother Randy (Ian Patrella), who looks like a purple Michelin Man in his snowsuit.

Ralphie’s buddies Flick (Scott Schwartz) and Schwartz (R.D. Robb) are your typical nine-year-olds, Triple-Dog-daring each other to do stupid things, like stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole. And all the kids are terrorized by the local bully, Scut Farkus (Zack Ward).

There are plenty of classic scenes in this film to go around: the Major Award of the Leg Lamp, the flagpole, visiting Santa, the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin, the Soap treatment, the Farkus Incident. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I love watching Mom trying to keep from laughing as the Old Man tries to repair his lamp.

The two-disc Special Edition has been out for a few years, but it’s worth getting it over the initial release. The first disc gives the viewer a choice of widescreen or pan & scan, which is rare these days. It’s ideal for that new widescreen HD you’re getting yourself for Christmas this year. There’s also a commentary track with Clark and Billingsley.

The second disc has interviews with Clark, Billingsley, Ward, Schwartz and Robb in a making of documentary. A history of the Daisy Red Ryder is included, along with a segment on a company that manufactures the hideous Leg Lamp. There’s also two trivia games on the disc.

Of interest to old radio buffs, there is a section that lets you hear the original radio readings by the film’s narrator, Jean Shepherd. The film is a mixture of holiday stories from his book, “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash,” on which the film is based.

The most appealing thing about this film, and the reason it’s my favorite holiday movie, is because it is honest and realistic for its time period. This isn’t a sappy Hallmark movie where someone has to redeem himself on Christmas. This is fun, appropriate for all. The only reason it gets a PG is because of some implied swearing (no actual bad words are used, other than “bitch”) some mild violence (by today’s standards), and some scenes you wouldn’t want your kids to emulate.

I highly recommend buying your own copy because you don’t always want to wait for Christmas Eve to watch it. In fact, I recommend that you brave the stores to get your own copy today. That way, you can start it whenever you like, and skip the commercials.

Go on. I Triple-Dog-Dare ya to resist this one.

It has become a tradition for TNT or TBS to start broadcasting this movie on Christmas Eve and play it for 24-hours straight (plus commercials). This year, it starts at 7 p.m. on TBS (Time-Warner Cable channel 12). If you’ve not seen it before, this is a good place to start. But I still recommend getting your own copy.